Really Believing Series

Really Believing What you Believe…

We have studied Hebrews for many weeks now. We have wandered through the foot hills of faith as we have learned about the nature and person of Jesus. We have struggled through the long and difficult climb on the rugged slopes of personal spiritual growth and we have celebrated the perfect covenant that Jesus established through his death on the cross. Now we travel down the other side of that mountain into the valley of hope and faith.

This week we’ll be learning from Hebrews 11 – the greatest writing on the subject of faith in the entire scriptures. With faith comes a different way of living. The anxious need to hungrily seek after something – anything – that gives some sort of significance is replaced by the resolute desire to live for God. By faith – everything is different. Nothing is off limits. Anything can happen. Any place can be our destination. Only God is constant – all else is variable – and it’s ok.

You see if you really believe what you believe – it changes the way you live life.

But what is faith – really?

Today we will look at Hebrews 11:1 and discover the very best definition that has ever been given.

Faith is being Sure and Certain

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1-2

This is the definition but what does it mean in real everyday life?

Faith is best defined not by words but by life. Last week we started with this series the first of several video testimonies. Last week we heard from Don Flintoff. This week listen to what Sheila Miles has to say…

When you Really Believe what You Believe

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1-2

Norm Jasmund has shared his faith not with words but with the testimony of his life which is exactly what happens when you really believe what you believe. Everything changes… including our understanding of this world

By Faith… We Understand

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith we understand that God created our world. Now some people believe that such faith is superstition and foolishness. But I believe that an intelligent design demands an intelligent designer and that such faith is actually less incredulous and more rational than the irrational faith required to believe in a godless evolution creating life from lifeless matter – which doesn’t even answer the question of where the matter comes from.

We don’t have time this morning to go into all of the evidences that point to the rationality and reasonableness of faith in our creator God. For now I’ll just say that I believe God’s word is true – that God spoke and what is came into being – that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

This I believe – and in this I am no different that Abel.

By Faith… Abel Gave Offerings

4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Abel believed God was and is and Abel understood that he was worthy of worship so he gave him his first and best offerings. It is this testimony of life that still testifies to the reality of God – even from the grave. We remember his story and his testimony just as we do so many others. Enoch’s faith is truly great.

By Faith… Enoch Pleased God

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Enoch is a man in the Bible that we know very little about – except this – he walked with God. Because of his faith and his faithful living he was such a pleasure for God to be with that one day Enoch went home with God.

Enoch was a man who had the mind of God and understood how important to really believe what you believe. He is quoted in Jude 1:14 as the one who prophesied about those men who say that they are believers, who are teachers of God’s people and shepherds of his church but are doing so only for their own gain. Jude calls them clouds without rain and autumn trees without fruit and uprooted – twice dead – both fruitless and ripped out of the ground. Enoch preached that God would come one day and all would be judged by the Lord himself.